[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESS, NOT THE FCC, SHOULD SET TAXES

  (Mr. CANNON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, the most exciting technological development 
of the past decade is the Internet. This truly global network is a 
conduit for communication and commerce and is rapidly transforming 
business, government and virtually every other part of our society.
  Not surprisingly, Congress in the Telecom Act 2 years ago moved to 
push the Internet into our schools. The concept was that deregulation 
would push down phone rates, allowing for some of the savings to be 
channeled into connecting schools to the Internet.
  That was the intent. The reality has been much different. Starting 
July 1, every AT&T customer will begin paying a 5 percent surcharge on 
every long distance call. MCI customers will be burdened with a 5.9 
percent markup.
  Should every American school have access to the Internet? Yes. Should 
every American child have the opportunity to tap the wonders of the 
electronic highway? Clearly, yes. But should every American be forced 
to pay up to 5.9 percent of their current phone bill in order to funnel 
funds into a new Federal bureaucracy with the charge to disburse 
billions of dollars to schools that beg appropriately? The answer to 
that is no.
  The power and authority to levy taxes is clearly vested in Congress. 
We, not the FCC, should be shaping policy in this area.

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